Multi-thickness goggle lenses

ABSTRACT

A multi-thickness lens for a goggle may be disclosed in accordance with various embodiments. The multi-thickness lens may include a portion of a first thickness and a portion of a second thickness. In particular, the multi-thickness lens may be inserted into a goggle, including goggles configured to receive standard lenses. Further, the goggle may include features that may allow the multi-thickness lens to distribute forces and/or stresses to the goggle and/or may include features and/or components adapting the goggle to receive a multi-thickness lens.

TECHNICAL FIELD

One or more embodiments relate generally to goggles and, moreparticularly, to sport goggles.

BACKGROUND

Sport goggles are worn by users for various sports or activities, suchas motorsports, powersports, snowsports, watersports, biking, or thelike, to protect users' eyes. A sport goggle typically includes a goggleframe which is compatible with a specific type of lens or accessories.

SUMMARY

Goggle systems and methods are provided in accordance with one or moreembodiments that may include a multi-thickness lens. In accordance withan embodiment, a goggle lens may be disclosed. The goggle lens mayinclude a goggle lens perimeter portion including one or more attachmentfeatures configured to couple to a goggle frame, wherein at least aportion of the goggle lens perimeter portion is a first thickness and agoggle lens viewing portion coupled to the goggle lens perimeterportion. The goggle lens viewing portion may be a second thicknessdifferent from the first thickness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a sports goggle, in accordancewith an example of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cutaway view of a sports goggle, in accordance withan example of the disclosure.

FIGS. 3A-F illustrate orthogonal views of a multi-thickness lens, inaccordance with an example of the disclosure.

FIGS. 4A-C illustrate isometric views of a multi-thickness lens, inaccordance with an example of the disclosure.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate simplified representations of details of a sportsgoggle with a multi-thickness lens, in accordance with an example of thedisclosure.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart illustrating an assembly process of a sportsgoggle with a multi-thickness lens, in accordance with an example of thedisclosure.

Embodiments of the invention and their advantages are best understood byreferring to the detailed description that follows. It should beappreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify likeelements illustrated in one or more of the Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A multi-thickness lens for sports goggles is disclosed in accordancewith various embodiments. The multi-thickness lens may include one ormore portions at a first thickness and one or more portions at a secondthickness. Additionally, the multi-thickness lens may include additionalportions at certain thicknesses. In certain embodiments, themulti-thickness lens may be adapted to be retrofitted onto an existinggoggle. In certain such embodiments, the lens may include features toallow for the lens to fit onto lens mounting features of the existinggoggle.

Sports goggles may provide protection to the user of the goggles. Forexamples, sports goggles may protect the user from dust, stones,foliage, mechanical parts, and other debris that may strike the user.For example, a goggle may be compatible with lenses of a firstthickness. Accordingly, the goggle may include slots or other interfacesthat are configured to receive lenses of the first thickness. Suchgoggle may not be compatible with lenses of a second thickness as thesecond thickness may be too thick or too thin to be inserted into theslots or other interfaces. Thus, if the user and/or manufacturerrequired a lens of a different thickness, a new sport goggle must beused.

The multi-thickness lens may be thicker in certain portions to preventdamage from debris that strikes the lens from striking the user and/orprevent damage to the lens itself while including features to allow themulti-thickness lens to be compatible with goggle configured to receivelenses of other thicknesses. Additionally, the multi-thickness lens mayinclude features to distribute such stresses experienced by the lens tofurther prevent damage. Such features may include features on the lensitself or features of the goggles.

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a sports goggle, in accordancewith an example of the disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, goggle 100may include a lens 102, a gasket 104, and a first goggle frame portion106, and a second goggle frame portion 108. The lens 102 may be receivedby a lens receiving portion of the goggle 100 and may be disposedsubstantially at a front end of goggle 100. In certain embodiments, thefirst goggle frame portion 106 and the second goggle frame portion 108may fully or partially “sandwich” the lens 102 between them whenassembled, thus holding the lens 102 in place. In certain suchembodiments, the first goggle frame portion 106 may be disposed on arear end (e.g., the portion closer to the face of the user) of thegoggle 100 and the second goggle frame portion 108 may be disposed on afront end (e.g., the portion farther from the face of the user) of thegoggle 100. In certain embodiments, the first goggle frame portion 106,the second goggle frame portion 108, and/or other portions of the goggle108 may be made from one or multiple materials. Such materials may berigid or flexible and may include plastics, composites, wood, metal,cardboard, rubber, silicone, and/or other such materials.

The lens 102 may be replaceable. As such, in certain embodiments, thegoggle 100 may be configured such that the lens 102 may be replaced fromthe goggle 100 and replaced with another lens. In certain embodiments,the lens 102 may then be held in place with adhesives, mechanicalfasteners, through friction and/or other features preventing substantialmovement of the lens 102, and/or through other techniques.

The gasket 104 may be configured to contact a user's face. In certainembodiments, the gasket 104 may seal or aid in sealing the interior ofthe goggle 100 from moisture, dust, rocks, UV rays, and/or otherenvironmental objects. As such, the gasket 104 may be made from aflexible material such as rubber or silicone. In certain embodiments,the gasket 104 may include vent holes to allow for ventilation.

Goggle 100 may have a loop shape with particular contours that mayaccommodate the eyes and nose of a user. In particular, goggle 100 mayinclude a right field vision region, a left field vision region, and anose region. The right field vision region may be configured to surrounda right eye of a user, the left field vision region may be configured tosurround a left eye of the user, and the nose region may be configuredto rest on the nose of the user. In particular, the nose region of thegoggle 100 may have a dome shape to accommodate the nose of the user.

The first goggle portion 106 and/or the second goggle portion 108 may beformed continuously around the loop shape of the goggle 100. As such,the first goggle portion 106 and/or the second goggle portion 108 mayhave similar contours at the right field vision region, the nose region,and the left field vision region of the goggle 100, respectively. Incertain embodiments, different portions of the goggle 100 may graduallychange from facing in the rear direction to facing in the downwarddirection at, for example, the dome shaped nose region of the goggle 100and thus, the gasket 104, the first goggle portion 106, and/or thesecond goggle portion 108 may be configured to have a continuous andseamless contact with the face of the user around the user's eyes andaround the user's nose. The gasket 104, the first goggle portion 106,and/or the second goggle portion 108 may have cutouts that may provideadditional flexibility around the nose region to provide additionalcomfort to the user.

The first goggle portion 106, and/or the second goggle portion 108 mayinclude slit openings at the right end and the left end. The slitopenings may be configured to accommodate a goggle strap that may beused to wrap around a user's head to fasten the goggle 100 to the user.For example, two ends of the goggle strap may be threaded through thetwo slit openings, respectively. The first goggle portion 106, and/orthe second goggle portion 108 also may include recesses at the right andleft ends near the slit openings. The recesses may be configured toaccommodate the goggle strap when the goggle strap wrap around the leftand right sides of the goggle 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cutaway view of a sports goggle, in accordance withan example of the disclosure. FIG. 2 may illustrate an embodiment of thegoggle 100 where the first goggle portion 106 and the second goggleportion 108 are interconnected and may, thus, be produced as one part.

In such an embodiment, the first goggle portion 106, the second goggleportion 108, and/or a combination of the first goggle portion 106 andthe second goggle portion 108 may form a groove 212. The groove 212 mayextend through a portion or all around that of the goggle 100. Thegroove 212 may be configured to receive the lens 102. In certainembodiments, features forming the groove 212 may be flexible and/or maybe configured to be disassembled. In such embodiments, the lens 102 maybe removed from the goggle 100 and a new lens may be fitted.

In certain embodiments, a part of the first goggle portion 106 may forma part of the groove 212 and a part of the second goggle portion 108 mayform another part of the groove 212. In such embodiments, the firstgoggle portion 106 may be coupled to the second goggle portion 108 toform the groove 212. When the first goggle portion 106 is coupled to thesecond goggle portion 108, the lens 102 may be secured within the groove212. The first goggle portion 106 may also be configured to be decoupledfrom the second goggle portion 108. When decoupled, the lens 102 may beremoved from the groove 212.

In other embodiments, portions of the goggle 100 (e.g., the first goggleportion 106 and/or the second goggle portion 108) and/or the lens 102may be flexible. In such embodiments, the lens 102 may be removed byflexing the portions of the goggle 100 and/or flexing the lens 102. Incertain such embodiments, the lens 102 may be removed through acombination of disassembly of the goggle 100 and flexing of certainportions of the goggle 100 and/or the lens 102.

FIGS. 3A-F illustrate orthogonal views of a multi-thickness lens, inaccordance with an example of the disclosure. FIGS. 4A-C illustrateisometric views of a multi-thickness lens, in accordance with an exampleof the disclosure. FIGS. 3A-F and 4A-C illustrate a lens 102 thatincludes a goggle lens perimeter portion 320 and a goggle lens viewingportion 322. The lens 102 may also include attachment features 324A-I.

In certain embodiments, the goggle lens viewing portion 322 and thegoggle lens perimeter portion 320 may be different thicknesses. Incertain such embodiments, the goggle lens viewing portion 322 may be afirst thickness and the goggle lens perimeter portion 320 may be asecond thickness. In certain other such embodiments, the goggle lensviewing portion 322 and/or the goggle lens perimeter 320 may be varyingthicknesses (e.g., the thickness may change from one part of the gogglelens viewing portion 322 and/or the goggle lens perimeter 320 to anotherpart such that the goggle lens viewing portion may be a first thicknessrange and the goggle lens perimeter portion 320 may be a secondthickness range).

The goggle lens perimeter portion 320 may be configured to be coupled tothe goggle 100. In certain embodiments, the goggle lens perimeterportion 320 may be configured to be inserted within the groove 212. Thegoggle lens perimeter portion 320 may be configured (e.g., sized ordimensioned) to be inserted within the groove 212 and/or coupled to thegoggle 100. The goggle lens viewing portion 322 may be thicker than thegoggle lens perimeter portion 320 to provide additional protection tothe user. In such embodiments, the goggle lens perimeter portion 320 maybe a second thickness or vary within a second thickness range to fitwithin the groove 212 while the goggle lens viewing portion 322 may be afirst thickness or vary within a first thickness range. In certainembodiments, the goggle lens viewing portion 322, or a portion thereof,may be thicker than the goggle lens perimeter portion 320. Certain suchembodiments may, for example, have the goggle lens perimeter portion 320be between 0.2 to 1.6 millimeters thick (e.g., 0.8 millimeters thick)and the goggle lens viewing portion 322 be between 1.2 to 3.2millimeters thick (e.g., 1.6 millimeters thick).

In certain embodiments, the goggle lens viewing portion 322 may be, atleast, a first material while the goggle lens perimeter portion 320 maybe, at least, a second material. For example, the first material may bea material less susceptible to damage. The second material may be amaterial that may aid in the insertion of the lens 102 into the groove212 to couple the lens 102 to the goggle 100. Examples of such materialsmay include plastics, glass, plexiglass, and/or other appropriatematerials. In certain embodiments, such materials or a portion of suchmaterials may be coated (e.g., with anti-fog coating or anti-ultravioletradiation coating) and/or may be polarized. For embodiments where thegoggle lens viewing portion 322 and the goggle lens perimeter portion320 are the same material or different materials, the goggle lensviewing portion 322 and the goggle lens perimeter 320 may be formedseparately (e.g., the portions may be produced separately and coupledtogether) or together (e.g., produced at the same time) via, forexample, injection molding, blow molding, 3D printing, machining, and/orother production processes. In embodiments where the goggle lens viewingportion 322 and the goggle lens perimeter portion 320 are formedseparately, the portions may then be coupled together through bonding,gluing, mechanical fastening, welding, ultrasonic welding, and/or otherprocesses after the portions are formed.

In certain embodiments, the goggle lens viewing portion 322 may beconfigured such that the differences in thickness do not affect thevision of the user. As such, the transitions between thicknesses may bepositioned away from the likely field of view of the user. Additionally,certain embodiments may include one or more smooth transition betweenthe different thicknesses while other embodiments may include one ormore stepped transitions between the different thicknesses. Certainother embodiments of the multi-thickness lens 102 may include three ormore portions of different thicknesses, or may include smoothtransitions between portions of different thicknesses.

Additionally, in certain embodiments, a portion of the lens 102 may beconfigured to contact the goggle 100 when the lens 102 is coupled to thegoggle 100. In such embodiments, the lens 102 and/or the goggle 100 mayinclude features that may help distribute forces and/or stressesexperienced by the lens 102 to the goggle 100. In certain suchembodiments, the thicker goggle lens viewing portion 322 may bear higherstresses than the thinner goggle lens perimeter portion 320. As such,configuring the lens 102 to distribute forces and/or stresses and/or tothe goggle 100 may allow the goggle lens viewing portion 322 of the lens102 to receive higher stresses (e.g., from a rock strike) while notdamaging the goggle lens perimeter portion 320.

In certain such embodiments, the lens 102 may include, for example, alip and/or another feature that may be configured to contact a portionof the goggle 100 (e.g., the first goggle frame portion 106 and/or thesecond goggle frame portion 108). Such contact may form a load path thatmay distribute stresses received by the goggle lens viewing portion 322through to the portion of the goggle 100. In certain such embodiments,for example, the transition between the goggle lens perimeter portion320 and the goggle lens viewing portion 322 may form a lip. The lip maybe configured to contact a portion of the goggle 100 (e.g., a portion ofthe first goggle frame portion 106 and/or the second goggle frameportion 108) and thus form the load path. Additionally, certainembodiments may include additional features on the lens 102 and/or thegoggle 100 (e.g., gaskets, mechanical features such as hooks and/orsnaps, fasteners, adhesives, and/or other features) that may allow forforces to be transferred from the lens 102 to the first goggle frameportion 106 and/or the second goggle frame portion 108.

The lens 102 may couple to the goggle 100 via, for example, one or moreattachment features 324A-I. The attachment features may, for example, beone or more holes, slots, cutouts, pins, hooks, snaps, and/or otherfeatures that may receive a corresponding feature on the first goggleframe portion 106 and/or the second goggle frame portion 108 (e.g., ahole on the lens 102 may be configured to be inserted within a pin onthe first goggle frame portion 106 and/or the second goggle frameportion 108). Such attachment features 324A-I may be disposed on thetop, sides, and/or bottom of the lens 102. In certain embodiments, thelens 102 may include, for example, five slots on the top of the lens102, two slots on the bottom of the lens 102, and 2 slots near a noseportion of the lens 102. In certain such embodiments, the attachmentfeatures 324A-I may be disposed regularly or semi-regularly along aperimeter of the lens 102.

As shown in FIG. 3C, in certain embodiments, the front of the lens 102may include a goggle lens viewing portion 322 that is raised withrespect to the goggle lens perimeter portion 320 while the goggle lensviewing portion 322 may be level with that of the goggle lens perimeterportion 320 on the rear of the lens 102, or vice versa. Otherembodiments may include raised goggle lens perimeter portions 320 onboth the front and bottom of the lens 102.

As shown in FIG. 4C, in certain embodiments, the goggle lens viewingportion 322 may be level with the goggle lens perimeter portion 320 onat least one side of the goggle lens 102. FIG. 4C may, for example, showa back side (e.g., the side closer to a user's eyes) of the goggle lens102. In certain embodiments of the goggle lens 102, the front side ofthe goggle lens 102 may include a goggle lens viewing portion 322 thatis not level with the goggle lens perimeter portion 320.

FIG. 4C may also illustrate an embodiment of the goggle lens 102 thatmay not include attachment features. In such an embodiment, theattachment features 324A-I, for example, may not be present and/or maybe replaced with other attachment features such as other types of slots,holes, hooks, snaps, cutouts, and/or other such features. In certainsuch embodiments, the goggle lens 102 may not have any attachmentfeatures and may, instead, be configured to be held in place within thegoggle 100 by being inserted into grooves and/or other features.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate simplified representations of details of a sportsgoggle with a multi-thickness lens, in accordance with an example of thedisclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified representation of the lens102 where the transition between the goggle lens viewing portion 322 andthe goggle lens perimeter portion 320 is at least partially smooth. InFIG. 5, the transition between the goggle lens viewing portion 322 andthe goggle lens perimeter portion 320 may include a radius 530. Incertain other embodiments, the transition may be smoothed by, forexample, a chamfer, curves of a plurality of radii, and/or othertechniques of forming a gradual transition between the goggle lensviewing portion 322 and the goggle lens perimeter portion 320.

FIG. 6 illustrates a simplified representation of a lens 102 that isconfigured to transfer stresses to a goggle 100. In FIG. 6, the groove212 may be disposed within the second goggle frame portion 108. Otherembodiments may dispose the groove 212 within the first goggle frameportion 106 and/or may be formed by a combination of the second goggleframe portion 108, the first goggle frame portion 106, or through one ormore other components of the goggle 100 alternatively or in combination.

In FIG. 6, the second goggle frame portion 108 may include a surface 632that may be configured to rest against at least a portion of a surface322A of the goggle lens viewing portion 322. In certain embodiments, thesurface 322A of the goggle lens viewing portion 322 or a portion thereofmay contact the surface 632 and/or be in contact such that the gogglelens viewing portion 322 is “pre-loaded” against the surface 632. Insuch embodiments, forces and/or stresses experienced by the goggle lensviewing portion 322 may be transferred from the goggle lens viewingportion 322 to the second goggle frame portion 108 via the surface 322A.Additionally, “pre-loading” the goggle lens viewing portion 322 and/orthe lens 102 may increase the rigidity of the goggle lens viewingportion 322 and further reduce the possibility of damage from impacts.

FIG. 7 illustrates an additional simplified representation of a lens 102that is configured to transfer stresses to a goggle 100. In FIG. 7, thegroove 212 may also be disposed within the second goggle frame portion108. Additionally, in FIG. 7, an adapter 634 may be disposed between thesurface 322A of the lens 102 and the surface 632 of the second goggleframe portion 108. The adapter 634 may be, for example, a component thatmay allow a multi-thickness lens 102 to be adapted to fit within thegoggle 100 (e.g., a component that may allow a multi-thickness lens 102to couple to certain attachment features), a gasket that may allow thelens 102 to transfer force from the lens 102 to the first goggle frameportion 106 and/or the second goggle frame portion 108, and/or anothercomponent that may allow the lens 102 to be received by the goggle 100.

In certain embodiments, the adapter 634 may allow the lens 102 to expandand/or deform for a first distance. For example, the adapter 634 maydeform or occupy space left by certain multi-thickness lens 102 toimprove the look, function, and/or ease of assembling of the lens 102 tothe goggle 100 (e.g., the first goggle frame portion 106 and/or thesecond goggle frame portion 108). The adapter 634 may additionally aidin the transfer of forces and/or stresses from the lens 102 to thesecond goggle frame portion 108. As such, the adapter 634 may allow fortransfer of forces and/or stresses or a portion thereof while stillminimizing stresses experienced by the lens 102 through deflectionand/or expansion.

In certain embodiments, an adapter may be disposed within the goggle 100when a multi-thickness lens is coupled to the goggle 100. Such anadapter may be, for example, the adapter 634, a component withattachment features configured to couple to the lens 102 and/or otherportions of the goggle 100, and/or other components that may allow forthe multi-thickness lens 102 to be fitted within a goggle 100 that maybe configured to receive a standard lens.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart illustrating an assembly process of a sportsgoggle with a multi-thickness lens, in accordance with an example of thedisclosure. In block 802, the goggle frame or portions of the goggleframe may be disassembled and/or displaced. After the goggle frame isdisassembled and/or displaced, a first lens disposed within the gogglemay be removed in block 804.

After the first lens has been removed, in optional block 806, an adaptermay be inserted and/or fitted to the goggle. The adapter may beconfigured to receive a multi-thickness lens for the goggle and/or maybe configured to help distribute stresses from the lens. In block 808, amulti-thickness lens such as the lens 102 may be inserted and/or fittedto the goggle. After the multi-thickness lens has been inserted and/orfitted, the goggle frame and/or portions of the goggle frame may beassembled.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with onlya limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood thatthe invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, theinvention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations,alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretoforedescribed, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of theinvention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention havebeen described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention mayinclude only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, theinvention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, butis only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected is:
 1. A goggle lenscomprising a goggle lens perimeter portion and a goggle lens viewingportion, wherein: at least a portion of the goggle lens perimeterportion is a first thickness; and the goggle lens viewing portion isdisposed within at least a portion of the goggle lens perimeter portion,wherein the goggle lens viewing portion is a second thickness differentfrom the first thickness.
 2. The goggle lens of claim 1, wherein aportion of a perimeter of the goggle lens is configured to contact aportion of the goggle frame.
 3. The goggle lens of claim 2, wherein theportion of the perimeter is configured to contact the portion of thegoggle frame to transfer force received by the goggle lens viewingportion to the goggle frame.
 4. The goggle lens of claim 2, wherein thegoggle lens perimeter portion comprises one or more attachment featuresconfigured to couple to a goggle frame.
 5. The goggle lens of claim 1,wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.
 6. Thegoggle lens of claim 5, wherein the first thickness is approximately 0.8millimeters.
 7. The goggle lens of claim 5, wherein the goggle lensperimeter portion is comprised of a first material and the goggle lensviewing portion is comprised of a second material.
 8. The goggle lens ofclaim 1, further comprising: a goggle lens transition portion disposedbetween the goggle lens perimeter portion and the goggle lens viewingportion.
 9. The goggle lens of claim 8, wherein the goggle lenstransition portion is the first thickness at a first end disposed nextto the goggle lens perimeter portion and is the second thickness at asecond end disposed next to the goggle lens viewing portion.
 10. Thegoggle lens of claim 9, wherein the goggle lens transition portionsmoothly transitions from the first thickness to the second thickness.11. The goggle lens of claim 1, wherein the goggle lens perimeterportion comprises at least a top side and a bottom side and theattachment features comprise a plurality of slots on the top side and aplurality of slots on the bottom side.
 12. The goggle lens of claim 11,wherein the goggle lens perimeter portion comprises five slots on thetop side and four slots on the bottom side.
 13. A goggle comprising thegoggle lens of claim 1, the goggle further comprising: the goggle frameconfigured to receive the goggle lens, wherein at least a portion of thegoggle frame is configured to couple to the goggle lens perimeterportion.
 14. The goggle of claim 13, wherein the goggle furthercomprises: an adaptor configured to couple to the goggle lens and thegoggle frame and receive force from the goggle lens and transfer atleast a portion of the force to the goggle frame.
 15. The goggle ofclaim 13, wherein the goggle frame is configured to contact at least aportion of the goggle lens viewing portion.
 16. The goggle of claim 15,wherein the goggle frame is configured to couple to the goggle lensperimeter portion at a first area and configured to contact the portionof the goggle lens viewing portion at a second area.
 17. The goggle ofclaim 13, wherein the goggle frame comprises a flexible portionconfigured to couple to the goggle lens perimeter portion.
 18. A methodof making the goggle lens of claim 1 comprising: forming the goggle lensperimeter portion; and forming the goggle lens viewing portion, whereinthe goggle lens viewing portion is disposed within at least a portion ofthe goggle lens perimeter portion.
 19. A method of assembling a gogglecomprising the goggle lens of claim 1, the method comprising: insertingthe goggle lens into a portion of a goggle frame of the goggle; andcoupling the goggle lens to the portion of the goggle frame of thegoggle.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: coupling anadapter to the goggle frame and/or the goggle lens.